Preview: Bolton Wanderers v Hull City

Bolton Wanderers take on Hull City in the Sky Bet Championship this weekend at the University of Bolton Stadium. With that said, bwfc.co.uk have pikced out five

1. Squad Update

When speaking to bwfc.co.uk this morning, manager Phil Parkinson gave an update on the squad prior to the weekend’s game against Hull City.

Jason Lowe will serve a one-game suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card on Wednesday against Nottingham Forest, while Will Buckley is back in contention after his recent spell on the sidelines.

2. Nigel Adkins

Entering his first full season as manager of the Yorkshire club, Adkins took over the reins in December 2017 following on from Leonid Slutsky.

In his playing career, Adkins made over 300 competitive appearances for a combination of Tranmere Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Bangor City.

With the latter, Adkins was appointed as player-manager in 1993 and went on to win back to back League of Wales titles with the Citizens – earning himself a place in Welsh Premier League Hall of Fame.

Departing from Nanporth in 1996, Adkins went on to join Scunthorpe United as a physiotherapist, after graduating from the University of Salford with a degree in physiotherapy.

In November 2006, he took over as manager of the Iron, sparking fan chants of “Who needs Mourinho? We’ve got our physio!”

After guiding Scunthorpe to two promotions from Sky Bet League One (2006/07 and 2008/09), Adkins joined Southampton in September 2010.

Back to back promotions for the Saints under him saw a return to the Premier League in 2012.

After leaving Southampton and stints as manager at Reading and Sheffield United, Adkins joined Hull City.

3. New Faces At The KCOM Stadium

With a new season comes new signings and Hull City are no exception, as bwfc.co.uk takes you through a selection of the Tigers' new arrivals.

American international Eric Lichaj joined the ranks from Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee.

The full back was a part of the United States squad that won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, scoring his first competitive international goal against El Salvador in the competition.

A name familiar to Wanderers fans that is now in the ranks at Hull City is defender Reece Burke.

Joining the Tigers this past summer, Burke spent time at Wanderers in the 2017/18 season and played his part as Wanderers avoided relegation from the Sky Bet Championship.

Jordy de Wijs signed a permanent deal at the Tigers from PSV Eindhoven.

Spending the majority of his time there in the Jong PSV side (reserves), the 23-year-old joined the Yorkshire club on a three year contract, with an option of a fourth year.

In the loan market, Chelsea right-back Todd Kane joined tomorrow’s opponents on a season-long loan.

In his youth career at the Blues, the England Under-19 international won the Premier Reserve League (2010/11) and FA Youth Cup (2011/12), playing in the same side as the likes of Nathaniel Chalobah, Lucas Piazon and Jamal Blackman.

4. Game To Remember

Heading back to April 2016 and interim manager Jimmy Phillips welcomed Steve Bruce’s Tigers side to the University of Bolton Stadium for a Sky Bet Championship clash.

Darren Pratley had his effort blocked from six yards out by Eldin Jakupovic and forward Zach Clough’s follow-up effort was expertly blocked by full-back Brian Lenihan, who was deputising.

Hull had chances of their own, with both Robert Snodgrass and Chuba Akpom cannoning efforts against Ben Amos’ crossbar.

In a game which had chances for either side, just after the hour mark Stephen Dobbie steps up to break the deadlock with a clever finish into the bottom left corner.

To see the highlights in full, click the link below:

5. Opposition’s current form

In Hull’s last five games, they have picked up two points in the Sky Bet Championship.

When looking towards the Tigers' away form, they have won one of their seven away clashes so far this year.

In their last match against Bristol City meanwhile, they lost 1-0 in the final moments of the games, as Famara Diedhiou scored in the 90th minute to take all three points for the Robins.

Report: Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Hull City

Bolton Wanderers fell to a 1-0 defeat against Hull City in the Sky Bet Championship at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Team News

Manager Phil Parkinson made seven changes to the line-up that started at Nottingham Forest.

Mark Beevers, Pawel Olkowski and Marc Wilson came in for David Wheater, Mark Little and Andrew Taylor.

As well as this, a suspended Jason Lowe was replaced by Erhun Oztumer, with Christian Doidge, Lloyd Dyer and Clayton Donaldson coming in for Josh Magennis, Yanic Wildschut and Craig Noone.

First Half

Seven minutes in and Hull City took the lead, as a Kamil Grosicki low cross into the area was left by Jarrod Bowen for Fraizer Campbell to slot underneath Ben Alnwick.

Bolton nearly responded perfectly on the ten minute mark, with Christian Doidge played through on goal, before a Tommy Elphick diving block prevented his effort from reaching the target.

Hull went up the other end in a flash, with Campbell again having a sight on goal and producing an effort from 20 yards that petered wide.

Joe Williams beat Tigers captain Markus Henriksen to the ball shortly after, smashing a shot just wide of the far post with keeper David Marshall beaten.

A one-two between Oztumer and Doidge set up a chance from the edge of the area for the Turkish man, but his strike wasn’t the cleanest as it flew wide of the mark.

A fantastic chance followed for the Wanderers with 25 minutes, with a counter attacking starting after a Christian Doidge knockdown sent Oztumer away.

The midfielder ran through the middle of the pitch before setting away Donaldson one-on-one, but the Jamaican’s effort was inches away from the equaliser.

A Hull City breakaway just after the half hour put Wanderers under pressure, but the resulting Grosicki curled effort was far away from Alnwick’s goal.

Oztumer began to run the show, with a quick change of pace following a Josh Vela pass saw a right footed shot open up but sail wide.

Another chance came for the Whites, with Doidge running with menace at the Tigers backline, slotting in Donaldson but his strike only found the side netting.

An Oztumer free-kick three minutes from the break found Marc Wilson’s head, but the towering centre-half couldn’t direct it towards Marshall’s net.

Second Half

Wanderers started in the ascendancy, as Donaldson nipped past his man and put a fierce delivery into the area to find Vela.

The midfielder followed up with a strong strike of his own but Marshall was equal to it in the Tigers net.

Oztumer was at it again ten minutes after the restart, as he left Daniel Batty with an innovative piece of skill, but his effort from 20 yards was straight at Marshall.

The Tigers went straight up the other end, with a cross into an unmarked Grosicki leaving just Alnwick to beat.

However, the Polish international hit his effort straight at the Wanderers goalkeeper, who grasped it to his chest.

Oztumer came close yet again just after the hour mark, as he won the ball in dangerous territory before unleashing another curling effort on goal which was agonizingly close to the back of the net.

A wonderful flowing move between Williams and Oztumer saw the latter play in Olkowski on the right flank.

The Polish international cut infield, before producing an effort at goal which Marshall saved comfortably.

With five minutes of regular time to go, second half substitute Josh Magennis found room down the left side of the Hull box, before smashing the ball across goal to sting the hands of Hull's David Marshall.

Mark Beevers went close with a header from an Oztumer cross, but his looping effort on goal wasn't enough to test the Tigers defence.

The Whites through everything at Nigel Adkins' side with the clock running down, but Hull stood strong as they played it out until full-time.